Manali-Sarchu highway opens for vehicular traffic

“After hard work of over two months, our Jawans have finally cleared 474km-long highway from Manali-Sarchu highway. We have given a green signal to traffic from June 10,” 38 Border Task Force (38 BRTF) commander Col Uma Shankar said.

Manali: The strategically important Manali-Sarchu highway, which passes through some of the world’s highest mountains, has finally opened for civic traffic on Monday.

The highway is now functional after the snow-clearing operation was carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

“After hard work of over two months, our Jawans have finally cleared 474km-long highway from Manali-Sarchu highway. We have given a green signal to traffic from June 10,” 38 Border Task Force (38 BRTF) commander Col Uma Shankar said.

The 16 BRTF of the BRO had cleared snow from Leh to Sarchu a few days back but clearing snow from Manali to Sarchu was a big challenge for 38 BRTF. According to BRO officials, over a 100 avalanches along the Manali-Sarchu highway had not only deposited over 50ft thick layer of snow and ice but also damaged the road at many places.

The Manali-Sarchu road connects the high altitude Himalayan town with Leh in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The stretch is prone to snowfall and remains inaccessible for vehicular traffic during winters.

Earlier on May 22, the Manali-Keylong road in the Lahaul-Spiti district, which remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, was opened for vehicular.